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Content Note

The George W. Reilly collection consists of letters,
a diary, financial records, ephemera, and photographs from a short time
period (1881-1902) in the life of George Reilly who was mayor of Caldwell,
Kansas, and then lived in Wichita for a number of years. Reilly was involved
in the opening of Indian Territory south of Caldwell in Oklahoma and his
papers include letters referring to this event and the first run into Oklahoma
in 1889.

Biography

George Reilly was born in Illinois in 1852. He
was raised in the mercantile business and started clerking at an early age.
After college, he went to Nebraska and Iowa for a short time, working in
grocery and hardware business. From there, he lived in Wichita from 1874
until 1879 where he bought the Todd & Royal Store. Here he ran the wholesale
and retail grocery store on the northeast corner of Main and Douglas, now
the Schweiter Building. In 1879, he moved on to Caldwell, Kansas, where
he was involved in the general supply industry, real estate, sales, law,
and became mayor of the town around 1887-1889. Sometime between 1896 and
1899, he moved back to Wichita, making it his home until his death in 1919.
He lived at 1359 North Lawrence Avenue.

In 1876, he married Lizzie Reilling of Bellevue, Iowa; she died in 1880.
Soon after, in 1881, Reilly married Lizzie’s sister Regina. Between
the two wives, Reilly had many children. He died at the age of 68 in 1919.

Reilly was an influential local figure in Caldwell during the period when
Oklahoma was being opened up to settlers.

Oversized.
This series includes an oversized photograph of Reilly and family.

Detailed Description: Box and Folder Listing

Series 1 ‒ Correspondence

Box
1

FF
1

June
1867. Letter to “Cousin George” [George Reilly] from John Murphy.
The letter discusses family matters.

Box
1

FF
1A

June-October 1881. 31 personal letters written to Regina Reilling.
Reilling was the sister of Reilly’s first wife Lizzie who died
in 1880. George W. Reilly then married Regina, sister of Lizzie,
in November 1881.

Box
1

FF1B

October
1881. Letter written by Reilly to Father Portz. In the letter
Riley asks for “a dispensation for me (if it is required) to
marry my deceased wifes sister Miss Regina Reilling.”

Box
1

FF
2

1885.
The file contains a personal letter from Regina, a personal
letter addressed to Reilly as “Mayor,” and three letters written
to Reilly concerning land.

Box
1

FF
2A

January
1886. A letter to “Sister and Brother” [envelope addressed to
G. W. Reilly] discussing family matters.

Box
1

FF
3

October-November 1886. This file contains letters about assay tests,
silver mines, and the potential for a “boom” in Caldwell. There
is also correspondence about purchasing bricks. Reilly is Referred
to as Mayor.

Box
1

FF
4

December
1886. Contains correspondence about an ore evaluation and a
business letter to Mayor Reilly.

Box
1

FF
5

January-February
1887. Contains business correspondence, including a letter from
Kansas, Colorado, and Texas Railroad Co. discussing whether
or not to bring the railroad to Caldwell.

Box
1

FF
6

March
1887. Letters from the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway
Co. concerning a right of way. Also letters from Caldwell Coal
and Mining, a letter concerning a subsidy in Caldwell, and a
letter from the State of Kansas declaring Caldwell a city of
the second class on 3-22-1887.

Box
1

FF
7

April
1887. Business letters regarding property values, references
on several men.

Box
1

FF
8

May
1887. Correspondence about the coal company from Chicago, Kansas
and Nebraska Railway Co.

Box
1

FF
9

June
1887. Letters about the “boom,” property sales, Chicago, Kansas
and Nebraska Railway Co. right of way and location of depot.

Box
1

FF
10

July
1887. Business correspondence about property, real estate, law,
and loans and several different topics from Chicago, Kansas
and Nebraska Railway Co. livestock agent, local surgeon, transportation).

1888.
Inquiry to Mayor about a “swindler.” Also, other business correspondence.

Box
1

FF
15

January-February
1889. Letters from Samuel Crocker about bill pending in the
Senate about the “Oklahoma movement.” Also correspondence from
Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway Co. and a telegram from
P. L.(?) Pierce regarding Oklahoma bill.

Box
1

FF
16

March
1889. Correspondence from Samuel Crocker about Indian appropriation
bill (passed), Indian territory in Purcell, Oklahoma, and Crocker
and Mansur’s arrival in Caldwell. Letter from George Brown about
people (settlers) arriving in Purcell and from H. L.(?) Pierce
about Mansur’s arrival.

Box
1

FF
17

April-May
1889. Letter from B. W. Perkins (?), House of Representatives,
coming for President proclaiming the opening of Oklahoma country
and discussion about opening to “white and civilized settlement.”
Also a letter from Merritt Headquarter Department of the Missouri
regarding Mayor Reilly’s inquiry whether Oklahoma settlers can
cross the Cherokee Strip and how. A second letter from the Dept.
of the Missouri grants permission for Oklahoma settlers to pass
through Cherokee Strip by regularly established cattle trail
and public highways. Additional material from Headquarters Kansas
Brigade Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias.

1890.
Personal and business correspondence (indicates that Reilly
went on the road as job).

Box
1

FF
20

January-April
1901. Personal letters to and from Reilly.

Box
1

FF
21

May
1901. Personal and business letters.

Box
1

FF
22

June-December
1901. Personal letters, including one from Reilly’s granddaughters
in Wichita and telegraph notifying Reilly of a house burning
down.

Box
1

FF
23

1902.
Personal letter.

Box
1

FF
23A

1918.
Letter written to Regina about the death of the author’s husband.

Box
1

FF
23B

1921.
Letter written to Regina about George’s death and a letter written
to Regina from her brother concerning family matters.

Box
1

FF
24

Dates
unknown. Unopened letter to Reilly, telegram about the death
of Mr. Phillip, two envelopes, a card to “Mother,” and a letter
written by Reilly to Bock and Schreiner with illegible date.

Series 2 ‒ Diary

Box
1

FF
25

Diary.
Photocopies and transcription of Reilly’s diary from 1874, March
through May.

Series 3 ‒ Financial Records

Box
1

FF
26

Receipts

Box
1

FF
27

Checks
and stubs

Box
1

FF
28

Bank
books

Series 4 ‒ Photographs

Box
1

FF
29

Reilly
in military photograph, the last in military dress on the far
left hand side of picture. Also, a photograph taken in 1914
of Reilly and Mary Helen.

Series 5 ‒ Ephemera

Box
1

FF
30

Includes
a 1901 card for the Order of United Commercial Travelers, 1990
and 1901 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway freight train permits,
and 2 assay reports. Photocopied obituaries for George Reilly,
photocopy of 1874 photograph of store owned by Reilly in Wichita,
biography of Reilly from 1883 History of Kansas.

Series 6 ‒ Oversized

Box
2

Photograph
of Reilly and his family, date unknown (circa 1901). Also includes
a photocopy of the photograph with identifications.

For information, please contact us at:

Wichita State University Libraries
Special Collections and University Archives
1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0068